Amnio - playing the odds (bit long, oops)

[ggglimpopo]

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I am 41 and due to give birth to our second child in 3 weeks. It took us 4 years to conceive so I would kill anyone who suggested I was being selfish or irresponsible having a child at this age.I had the nuchal fold test but nothing else and no abnormalities were picked up at the 20 week scan. My odds weren't especially high but even if they had been I would not have put my baby at risk of miscarriage from an amnio or CVS.
The blood tests are less reliable than the nuchal test, and both can only give you odds, not a diagnosis. And the trouble is even if you have an amnio and they tell you your baby does have Downs they can't say how severe it will be, so you might risk the life of a child who would be only slightly handicapped.
If you don't want the test and you would carry on with the pregnancy whetever the result then why take the risk.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

ggglimpopo good luck with whatever you decide.I was told after my blood test at 17 weeks I was high risk for DS1+2 [this was the same for both pregnancies].I had an amnio done for my first baby and an attempted amnio done 5 times !!!for my second baby.I was going round the twist the 2nd time and I found talking to my HV helped.Ultimately I couldn't get the amnio performed with ds2 as he was always lying in the wrong position.(he still is a stubborn wee bugger!!)My HV said at the time "would it be the end of the world if your 2nd baby did have DS" and when I realised it wouldn't be I stopped going back to the hospital to see if his position had moved and I could finally get the amnio.I didn't stop worrying though.So my advise would be go with your and dh instincts and try not to take to heart people who speak before they think!

Hello there ggglimpopo, I have a DD with DS, and I was the 1 in the '1 in 1002' odds that our nuchal scan offered up. I always say that I am pleased we didn't know about DD as the worry about DS would have impacted on my pregnancy, whereas the actuality is in so many ways so like every other child as it were. But you are in a slightly different position as it is being flagged up to you as a concern and you are being forced to confront it all. Whatever you decide, in your position I would be tempted to investigate what provision is available in your area, local support groups etc. Quite by chance we bought a house just in one London boro and just out of the one we were hoping to buy in and moved 4 weeks before DS was born, only to discver that the level of support varies dramatically from boro to boro (for us in London) and so more by luck than judgement DS was given a fantastic head start with physio, speech therapy, hearing tests etc - which friends across London sometimes struggle to access. BTW, she is a perfect cherub, adores her younger brother, and is turning 5 in Sept and starts mainstream primary one week before her birthday. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Well there is nothing much to add as I agree with everyone here and Bunny and I have had practically the same scenario. The only reassurance I can offer is to say that I am in Belgium and refused the amnio and they were actually supportive once I'd explained how we felt. I have just had a really detailed anomoly scan and there are no soft markers, at the end of the day, this is STILL not cut and dry, but it's good enough for us whatever the outcome. Stick to your guns, change your doctor if necessary. They aren't all the same I know as I have a friend in France who refused and amnio and has a great doctor who is cool about this.

Good Luck and enjoy your pregnancy

ggglimpopo: sorry, missed this thread til now.
Firstly - I was 43 when i had DS, and he DOES actually have a bit of a disability, but i am absolutely certain that my brimming, confident, happy little boy would not consider me selfish for having him!!!! (and it can't be determined whether my age was a factor, anyway).
Secondly, I have worked with lots of DS young people, and like you, my own impulse would not be to feel that DS was a reason not to have a child. Advances and education have changed life for DS children irrecognisably from what it was half a generation ago.
BUT we did have amnio when DS's leg was spotted at the 20 week scan, because there were factors which COULD have been indicators of far more severe chromosomal problems - as Marina talks of.

What I found really useful in knowing about my DS's leg before he was born was that I had done the research, found the parents suport sites, and was practically and emotionally prepared, and it had become more of an ordinary fact of life by the time he was born - so all that i had left to do was celebrate and get to know him.

But we didn't need to do amnio to find out about his leg - so I don't know if that pre-knowledge would have been worth a 200 in 1 chance of mc fromthe test. (I think it depends a lot on the skill and experience of the individual carrying it out).

How are you feeling?

ggglimpopo -- hope you're feeling okay.

Just a couple of thoughts -- I don't know how the French health system works, butI know that in eg. Germany they have religiously-based hospitals as well as secular ones. You might have a better chance of finding staff sympathetic to your viewpoint in the former. Apologies if that's totally inappropriate to your needs or tastes, but just thought it might be worth mentioning.

Also, I think Thomcat who hangs out on the SN board has a daughter with DS who looks absolutely gorgeous -- photos of her dd seem to crop up regularly on MN! She might have useful info if you wanted to go down the researching info route.

Take care.

ggglimpo - I am 15 weeks with no 3. Already have a disabled child. I am having the blood tests tomorrow. For me the blood test is to screen for anencephaly. If the result comes back high risk for spina bifida or DS, then I won't be having an amnio. Only my choice, but just to let you know that you aren't alone if that's what you choose.

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ggglimpopo, it sounds as if you're feeling reasonably on top of things. I do hope that's the case.

Blimey, I thought I came under pressure in the UK to have testing it sounds as if France is ten times worse. I can't see how it's relevant for them to keep telling you what most other women would do like you said, it's your body and your baby.

I hope the scan goes well for you -- makes me feel all misty-eyed and broody, and dd2 is only 7 months! I'm sure your baby will be a great little person whatever the scan shows.

glad to hear how things are going - enjoy your scan - seeing your baby... and unless France's lingers way behind other countries in terms of medical technology - detailed anomaly scans can pick up an awful lot - granted there is a lot they don't wither.. but it was a bit dismissive of the consultant to say that....

All the best for the scan. The detailed scan can pick up alot - I've had some of these & they can be stressful. The docs checked for so much it was amazing what could be imaged. I don't want to say something against your doc but he is missing out on a nice payment for the amnio!! (if he would have done it!)